Fire Safety for Outdoor Catering in Cumbria: What Event Organisers Expect
Before you serve a single burger at a Cumbria food festival, the event organiser will want proof that your setup won’t catch fire. That means the right extinguishers, properly maintained gas equipment, and a written fire risk assessment specific to your stall. This guide covers what you need, what organisers are checking for, and where outdoor caterers in Cumbria most commonly fall short.
Why Cumbria event organisers check your fire safety
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on anyone who controls premises, including temporary event sites. Event organisers are the “responsible person” for the overall site, but each trader is responsible for their own pitch. If your stall doesn’t meet requirements, the organiser carries the liability for letting you trade.
Cumbria’s summer calendar is packed — from Appleby Horse Fair through to Kendal Calling and dozens of Lake District food festivals. Outdoor catering setups using LPG, open flames, and hot oil in close proximity to crowds and marquees present a concentrated fire risk. Organisers have learned from experience what goes wrong, and their pre-event checks reflect that.
What organisers expect from your pitch
| Cooking method | Extinguisher required | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Deep fat fryer / hot oil | Wet chemical (Class F) | Water or foam on a fat fire causes a fireball. Wet chemical smothers and cools safely. |
| LPG gas burners | Dry powder (ABC rated) | Effective on gas and solid fires. Keep within 2 metres of the appliance. |
| Charcoal / wood-fired | Water or dry powder | For surrounding materials catching fire, not the grill itself. |
| Electrical equipment | CO₂ | Safe on live electrical equipment without leaving residue on food prep surfaces. |
Extinguishers must be serviced annually by a BAFE-certified competent engineer. Organisers check the service label — an out-of-date extinguisher is treated the same as no extinguisher. You’ll also need a fire blanket rated to BS EN 1869, a current gas safety certificate for any LPG installation, and proof that cylinders are stored upright, outside any enclosed area, and away from ignition sources.
Your fire risk assessment must be specific to your actual equipment, gas bottle sizes, cooking oils, and pitch layout. Experienced event safety officers spot template documents immediately — and a vague assessment is grounds for refusal to trade under Article 9 of the Fire Safety Order.
Pre-season fire safety checklist
Run through this list in May or early June, before your first event of the summer.
✓Equipment & documentation
- Review and update your fire risk assessment for this year’s setup.
- Check all fire extinguishers are in date — book a service if they’re due before September.
- Inspect LPG hoses, regulators, and connections. Replace anything cracked or perished.
- Obtain a current gas safety certificate if your LPG installation has changed or expired.
- Confirm your fire blanket is accessible and undamaged.
✓Site readiness & team briefing
- Test your generator and check all cables are fully unwound, outdoor-rated, and undamaged.
- Brief every team member on extinguisher locations, types, and basic use.
- Confirm separation distances and pitch layout meet the event’s site rules.
- File copies of all certificates and your risk assessment — digital and paper — ready to hand over on the day.
If you’re in Cumbria and need extinguishers serviced or a fire risk assessment for your catering setup, BFP’s team covers the whole county. Get sorted before the season starts.
Sources & further reading
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — Full legislation including Article 9 risk assessment duties
- BAFE — Third-party accreditation for fire extinguisher servicing and what certification means for compliance
- gov.uk Fire Prevention and Protection Statistics — Non-dwelling fire ignition source data
- HSE — Outdoor event and temporary installation fire risk data
Frequently Asked Questions
What fire extinguisher do I need for an outdoor catering stall?
It depends on your cooking method. A deep fat fryer requires a wet chemical (Class F) extinguisher. LPG gas setups need a dry powder extinguisher. If you use electrical equipment, a CO2 extinguisher is appropriate. Most traders need at least two extinguishers to cover different fire classes on their pitch.
Do I need a fire risk assessment to trade at a food festival in Cumbria?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every trader is responsible for assessing and managing fire risk on their own pitch. Most Cumbria event organisers require a written copy before they’ll confirm your booking. It must be specific to your equipment and layout.
How often should fire extinguishers on a catering trailer be serviced?
Fire extinguishers should be serviced every 12 months to BS 5306-3 by a competent engineer. Event organisers will check the service date label. If your extinguisher is overdue, it will be treated as non-compliant and you may not be allowed to trade.
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